Blackbirds

McKeown Erin

Four and twenty blackbirds perched o'er the Milhaus floor 
Four and twenty blackbirds perched o'er the Milhaus floor
Watching a pair of blackbirds, a pair of blackbirds more 
Four and twenty blackbirds perched o'er the Milhaus floor 
Said one blackbird to the other, "You must be my queen," 
Said one blackbird to the other, "You must be my queen," 
And the other replied in turn, "Well, sure enough you my king,"
Four and twenty blackbirds and two began to sing 

The queen she asked that question, "What makes the Milhaus rare?" 
The king replied in turn, "Well, tonight it's you so fair,"
Four and twenty blackbirds too baked themselves to care, 
Fly away you dainty dish, two blackbirds flew upstairs 

When that sun had risen and the rhyming it was through 
When that sun had risen and the rhyming it was through 
Four and twenty blackbirds had rhymed that nursery tune 
Fly away two blackbirds with nothing left to prove 

You count that blackbird lucky who first to fly away 
Bitter the taste left behind and the lonesome heart astray 
But pity not that blackbird, the blackbird who must stay 
For having tasted blackbird pie, baked and on display 

Four and twenty blackbirds perched o'er the Milhaus floor 
Four and twenty blackbirds perched o'er the Milhaus floor 
Watching a pair of blackbirds, a pair of blackbirds more